Life, not economy, is ‘summum bonum’

I wish to thank the Inquirer for its editorial, “Challenge for all” (Opinion, 1/3/17). For the timorous of hearts, it is comforting to know that the Philippine economic outlook for 2017 appears bright as foreign investors haven’t “pull[ed] the plug under our feet” yet. It also mentioned progress in other areas of the Philippine economy that are expected to improve further in 2017 and beyond.

But this is just one aspect of the situation.

However, although the editorial did mention extrajudicial killings (EJKs), it hardly emphasized the important fact that life—and its preservation and protection by the State anywhere in the world—is the ultimate good (summum bonum), not better economy that enriches mainly those who are already rich but does not protect the most precious possession of the poor, which is human life.

Impressive buildings and bridges that gleam in the distance, tremendous GDPs, etc. are not important if the citizens do not have the guaranty that their life is safe from a government that is prone to shoot first and ask only frivolous questions later to cover its bloody hands.

Presently, fear stalks the land under the draconian program of President Duterte to stop illegal drugs. More than 6,000 Filipinos have already been killed so far as President Duterte aims for his goal of 3 million drug users dead until he folds up his tent at the end of his six-year term.

This method is totally abhorrent in the eyes of God who is the author of life. We should hang our heads in shame as decent societies brand the Philippines “the murder capital of the world.” Can we be proud of our country’s improving economy if its citizens cower in fear for being the next target of Mr. Duterte’s brutality?

President Duterte has promised good things during his six-year term as president. But those promises will just be “like paper roses that will exude no fragrance” if the citizens are not guaranteed judicial process that will safeguard them from arbitrary arrests and death?

The Inquirer editorial did not emphasize this factor enough. For while the Duterte administration may deliver on some of his election promises, his success can only be measured by one important indicato—the preservation of the life of its citizens.

Filipinos will always prefer the noise and clatter of a democratic country than the silence of cemeteries.

CARLOS D. ISLES, carlosisles@gmail.com